volunteer travel
Volunteer travel trips give something more than just fond memories; tips and recommendations to give back while you Wander.
18 and Moving to Africa (Pt. 1)
18 sometimes seems too young to just get up and move away, especially to a third world country. Experiencing culture shock for the first time, teaching, the best roomie ever, and one crazy spoiled brat, the old me was gone! Yet if I didn't take this opportunity, I know I wouldn't be as successful as I am today.
By Ginger Snap7 years ago in Wander
Growing Up Outside
I didn't have what you might call a "normal childhood," complete with cops with AK-47s, testy border crossings, and rivers filled with snakes and piranhas. And I don't say snakes lightly. Picture a 9f t long anaconda. Or feisty black mambas. Or cobras climbing up your screen door. #JustGirlyThings
By Lorde Jacobson8 years ago in Wander
Adventures from the Back of a Cop Car in Cusco, Peru
If you know me, you will find this recollection to be (hopefully) amusing, and not entirely unexpected. If you don't know me, you will most likely just be worried for me and my well being as I go forward in life. Which is okay, because so am I. First, some light backstory to get you warmed up for the traumatic events to come. I travelled to Cusco, Peru for 5 weeks to volunteer after my second year of university. I arrived on Sunday, May 6th after what genuinely felt like 3 years of travelling. Also keep in mind a huge language barrier. By huge, I mean I, at this point, could maybe count to 10 in Spanish. And that was on a good day. Anyway, I got to my volunteer centre and got all my information, the address of the house I would be staying at, the names and background of the couple I would be staying with and my volunteer placement. Also a map. The man behind the counter asked me if I needed him to mark on the map where my house was. I, being me, said no and that I could do it myself, which I did. Then I took a taxi to the house, a bright pink home with a tall white gate surrounding it. After this I took a bus with my housemates to get lunch before my volunteer orientation at 2pm. I brought only my wallet and phone because what else would I need?
By Jane Panasiuk8 years ago in Wander
Why I Chose Haiti...
Ayiti, beautiful Haiti! I love Haiti for a number of reasons, all tied to how this nation changed my life. Although the country is known for being poverty-stricken and high in human trafficking, there are so many beautiful things about this country that we fail to openly discuss. My goal is to share Haiti's magic and explain to you why I chose to give my heart to the people here. I am forever grateful for my time and opportunity in the land of high mountains!
By Alyssa Renee8 years ago in Wander
Why Volunteering Overseas Has Changed My Life
Fresh out of high school, young, adventurous, and ready to take on the world. My rather audacious dreams of just hopping on a plane and saying goodbye to reality and every ounce of familiarity were all coming oh so real. You see, when I first had made the commitment to spend my first year out of high school volunteering overseas, I truly had no idea—I had no idea how much of an impact this would drastically have on my life. I had no idea that there would be such a presence of joy, self-discovery, and empowerment. I was clueless about the impact that would come as a side effect of volunteering. This is the radical story of how I truly discovered who I am, by the act of serving others.
By Sarah Robinson8 years ago in Wander
Volunteering Overseas
So what is VSO? Or Voluntary Services Overseas? Well, it’s exactly what it says on the tin; serving as a volunteer in another overseas from your home country. This kind of volunteering is usually associated with third world countries, but in fact, it can happen anywhere in the world, and I did mine in Japan. And you don’t necessarily need experience or special skills. You can literally volunteer to do anything, work-wise.
By John A. Cole8 years ago in Wander
100 Things You Should Bring When Volunteering in the Amazons
Comfortable and easy drying clothes Waterproof boots for hiking and dirty work Anti-insect spray Something against the itch if you do get stung Sunblock T-shirts with long sleeves T-shirts with short sleeves Shorts Pants Older clothes, which you do not mind getting dirty Pantsuits A sweater in case it gets cold Hoodie for the evening A dress or skirt Compression socks Pills against motion sickness Raincoat Flashlight Passport Any medicine you might take Pills against headaches and/or fever Thick socks Thin socks or short socks Underwear Bras Something to sleep in, which is not too warm or too cold. You will probably be sleeping in a hut with other volunteers, so stay covered up. Proof of your vaccinations Some projects require a police clearance A photocopy of your passport A photocopy of your flight tickets and other travel documents Chargers for all your different electronics. A smartphone Headset Earphones Bullet journal Pens and pencils Colouring pencils for organizing your notes or drawing when bored Notebook Deodorant Makeup Birth control if needed Lip balm First aid kit Hairbrush Shampoo Conditioner Body wash Towel Bag to bring on day trips Small bag Backpack Shoes for running or hiking Flip flops for quick errands Waterproof jacket, which can keep you warm but also easy to bring with you when taken off. Waterproof cape Bathing suit or bikini Disinfection gel Toilet paper. Not all toilets have that if there even is a proper toilet. Handkerchiefs Sunglasses Toothbrush Toothpaste Facial moisturizer Hat to protect your head and eyes from the sun Water bottle After sun lotions and creams Full body moisturizer Band-Aids Blister patch iPad or tablet Tablet charger Books or an e-book reader Pads and/or tampons A adapter for your electronics in case the plugs aren’t the same Voltage converter can be necessary. Make sure to look this up before you leave Bring cash, but never carry too much on you. There can be thieves and you do not wish to lose all your stuff Belt bag or fanny pack to keep your personal belongings safe and close to your body You can invest in a water to go bottle if you wish to have access to pure drinking water at all times. Packing cubes are great for longer trips and help you organize your suitcase. Bring plastic bags. You can use these to dispose of trash or your dirty clothes. They can also be used to vacuum your clothes, so you have more space in your suitcase. Waterproof bag for electronics Dry shampoo Nail file Nail clipper MP3-player. It sounds out-dated but it will save your phone quite some power Power bank. You’ll never know when you need it the most. Driver's license. You probably won’t need it, but it’s an ID and could come in handy if you wish to rent a car. Movies. You can either download some on your phone or bring the disc. Series. You can download a bunch of stuff from Netflix to bring with you offline Keys to your home Credit card ISIC (International Student Identity Card) if you have one. A foreign SIM-card can save you a lot of money if you intend to use your phone a lot. Google maps allow you to download maps offline. E-tickets if possible. Just in case you lose the papers. Computer Computer case Please do research your possibilities to keep your computer dry if needed. There are a lot of options and you have to find the one, which works for you. This goes on your phone as well. Make sure to keep it dry at all times. Bring a positive attitude and a good mood. Not all volunteer work is fun, but if you stay open minded you will properly meet some great people and experience the most incredible things.
By Cecilie Birkshøj8 years ago in Wander
Never Visit a German Horse Farm in December (Episode 1). Top Story - September 2017.
So I decided to go and work on a German horse farm in December. I had several reasons for doing so — not least of which was the desire to remove myself very thoroughly from all possibility of having to get involved with Christmas that year. I justified the decision very well, I thought. My reasoning was excellent and my resolve was rock solid. Not a single furrowed brow from any of my friends or acquaintances could sway me. I swept all potential obstacles aside and was so determined to escape Christmas that even a strength-sapping cough at the tail end of a two-week cold bug wasn't enough to stop me from embarking on my incredibly well-planned adventure.
By Sarah Jane8 years ago in Wander
Stay Safe with Defenselessness
As so many people and/or nations gear up for battle, denounce “others” as the enemy, and contract with fear, we need to take a deep breath and reflect on our situations from a very different, and much more helpful, point of view. We cannot hear too many times that defensiveness does not make us safe; quite the contrary. Many disciplines remind us that only when we are open and accepting, rather than closed and suspicious, are we truly safe. Long ago my husband and I had an opportunity to put this philosophy to the test, one I will never forget. We were touring several South American countries, including Ecuador. As we had planned our trip (pre-internet), I remembered reading in National Geographic about a tribe of indians that lived only in a small area of Ecuador and nowhere else in the world. Dubbed the Colorado Indians, they were so named because they painted themselves up with red berry juice (Colorado in common usage means “colored red” in Spanish), and since we were from Colorado, it seemed like a great idea to find these name-sake Colorado indians and have a look for ourselves.
By Carol Howe9 years ago in Wander
